Prince Andrew’s Lobbying for Jeffrey Epstein During Royal UAE Visit Revealed
Newly surfaced emails have cast a fresh spotlight on Prince Andrew’s controversial dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing the former Duke of York actively lobbied for Epstein during an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alongside the late Queen Elizabeth II. The correspondence, dating back to November 2010, suggests Andrew leveraged his position as the UK’s trade envoy to facilitate introductions and promote Epstein’s interests to high-ranking UAE officials.
During this state visit, which also included Prince Philip and then-Foreign Secretary William Hague, Prince Andrew met with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s foreign minister. Shortly after this meeting, Andrew sent an email to Epstein, apparently from an account labelled ‘The Duke’ and signed ‘A’. The message conveyed enthusiasm about Epstein’s standing, stating, “Hey! You are in big time. He thinks you are great and would like to introduce you to Sheikh Mohammed [sic], the Crown Prince. I will discuss further and report back.”
This email exchange indicates that Andrew was actively acting as an intermediary for Epstein, attempting to connect him with influential figures in the UAE. The Crown Prince at the time was Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose family commands vast wealth, with assets estimated to exceed £1 trillion. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ascended to the presidency of the UAE in 2022.
The implications of these emails are significant, as they appear to be further evidence of Prince Andrew utilising state-funded international trips to advocate for his financier associate. Epstein, in a reply to Andrew later that same day, expressed a desire for a shared holiday and indicated his willingness to return to Abu Dhabi, suggesting a close and ongoing relationship between the two.
Prince Andrew’s association with Epstein has been a source of considerable controversy. He was compelled to step down from his royal duties in 2019 and was subsequently stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages last year due to his connections with the convicted paedophile and child sex trafficker.
It is important to note that the released documents make no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Sheikh Mohamed or Sheikh Abdullah. The emails, which originated from files released by the US Department of Justice, also hint at a prior meeting between Epstein and Sheikh Abdullah. An email from Epstein to Andrew in October 2010 seemingly outlined talking points Epstein intended to use to persuade Sheikh Abdullah to collaborate with him. These points included:
* Trust
* Financial expertise
* Funder of extreme science (way out there)
* Fun
Scrutiny and Past Controversies
These revelations have drawn sharp criticism from campaign groups. Graham Smith of Republic commented on the situation, stating, “This revelation adds to the wider picture of Andrew having no judgment and no moral compass. It also raises more questions about his relationship with Middle Eastern rulers and dictators.” He further added that despite facing significant public scrutiny at the time, Andrew appeared indifferent to criticism, acting as though he could “do what I want.”
Prince Andrew, often nicknamed “Air Miles Andy” due to his extensive overseas travel, held the role of the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. In this capacity, he made regular visits to the UAE. His friendship with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan dates back to their school days.
During the 2010 visit, Andrew’s official duties included greeting his mother upon her arrival. However, this trip also brought him under fire for accepting a £1 million golf and holiday villa in Abu Dhabi from the UAE’s royal family.
This generous gift provided him with complimentary use of a four-bedroom townhouse, described by sources as a “heavily gilded mini-palace,” whenever he wished. Critics at the time viewed this as a “clear conflict of interest.”
Responding to such criticisms in the past, Prince Andrew highlighted the long-standing relationship between the UK and the UAE, spanning over 40 years. He spoke of the significant efforts made in the intervening period and the growing interest in the region for investment and business opportunities, an interest that he stated was reciprocated by the UAE and other regional nations.
Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor. He served 13 months of an 18-month sentence, participating in a work-release program that allowed him to leave prison during the day. The emails detailing his dealings in the UAE with Prince Andrew would have been sent shortly after his release from prison.
As of the time of reporting, a representative for Prince Andrew did not respond to requests for comment.
